Jakarta – Hoping for reforms in the Police is like waiting for the cows to come home. Systemic damage within the Indonesian National Police (Polri) means that it is difficult to hope for real change.

Dinda Shabrina, Jakarta – The number of children affected by food poisoning linked to the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program has continued to soar. As of September 27, 2025, monitoring by the Indonesian Education Monitoring Network (JPPI) recorded a total of 8,649 child victims, an alarming increase of 3,289 in just the past two weeks.

Antara, Jakarta – Shell Indonesia has denied reports that it laid off employees due to fuel shortages at its gas stations.

"Shell Indonesia clarifies that the information being circulated is not true," the company said in a statement on Sunday, as quoted by state news agency Antara.

Agencies, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto on Monday defended his ambitious plan to provide free meals for children after some 6,000 cases of food poisoning, saying the percentage of those affected was small and the programme was still finding its footing.

Harumbi Prastya Hidayahningrum, Jakarta – The Presidential Secretariat has assured that it will no longer revoke journalists" press credentials following an incident involving CNN Indonesia TV reporter Diana Valencia.

Hendrik Yaputra, Jakarta – The Indonesian Chief Editors Forum Association (Forum Pemred) regrets the action by the Press, Media, and Information Bureau (BPMI) of the Presidential Secretariat in revoking the press identity card of CNN Indonesia journalist, Diana Valencia.

Salman Mardira, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto on Monday declared that he holds no grudge against former Jakarta governor Anies Baswedan, his rival in last year's presidential election. Prabowo said the heated debates and confrontations during the campaign were simply part of the democratic process.

Lili Yan Ing – Less than 11 months into his term, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto faces a stark choice. He can be remembered either as a leader whose presidency was defined by public anger and discontent, or as one who recognised the challenges facing his country and acted in the national interest.

Dian Rahma Fika, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto admitted there were flaws in the implementation of the government's free nutritious meal program (MBG) after more than 6,000 students reportedly suffered food poisoning from the meals provided.

Ilona Estherina, Jakarta – Indonesian rupiah exchange rate at the end of the week, Friday, September 26, 2025, closed weaker at Rp16,775 per US dollar. Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa is convinced that the previously plummeting rupiah will recover.

Ilona Estherina, Jakarta – Ten representatives from the Alliance of Indonesian Economists (AEI) met with Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto on Monday, September 29, 2025, calling on the government to temporarily suspend the free nutritious meal program (MBG).

Ervana Trikarinaputri, Jakarta – Indonesia's National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) is investigating potential human rights violations linked to the mass poisoning incidents in the government's free nutritious meal program, known as Makan Bergizi Gratis (MBG).

East Timor's recalibration of its stance on Myanmar's military regime has drawn both scrutiny and intrigue across Southeast Asia, as Dili seeks to smooth its path into Asean ahead of next month's summit.

Suji Kang, Ollie Wilson and Mutya Yustika, Jakarta – Across Southeast Asia, multinational firms are expanding their footprint, setting up new factories, building data centers and strengthening supply chains. Indonesia, with its large economy and strategic location, should be leading the region in attracting that investment.

Heru Andriyanto, Jakarta – The Indonesian Press Council has urged the Presidential Palace to reinstate the press credentials of a CNN Indonesia journalist whose access was revoked after she asked President Prabowo Subianto about a government food aid program.

Antara, Jakarta – A professor from the Faculty of Public Health at the University of Indonesia (UI), Fatma Lestari, asserted that the recent landslide at the Freeport Indonesia mine was not merely a natural disaster.

Hendrik Yaputra, Jakarta – The Indonesian Press Council has sharply criticized the Presidential Palace for revoking the press credentials of a CNN Indonesia reporter who questioned President Prabowo Subianto about the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program.

Surabaya – An activist from the Central Java city of Yogyakarta, Muhammad Fakhrurrozi, known to his friends as Paul, has been arrested by the authorities and is currently being detained at the East Java Regional Police (Polda Jatim) in Surabaya.

Jakarta – A number of press organisations have strongly criticised the actions of the Presidential Secretariat's Press, Media and Information Bureau (BPMI) for revoking the Palace press credentials of CNN Indonesia journalist Diana Valencia after she asked President Prabowo Subianto about his Free Nutritious Food (MBG) upon is arrival at the Halim Perdanakusuma Airport in Jak

Alif Ilham Fajriadi, Jakarta – The National Consumer Protection Agency (BPKN) is intensifying scrutiny over the recent mass food poisoning cases affecting children consuming the government's Free Nutritious Meal (MBG). According to data from the Indonesian Education Monitoring Network, the number of child victims of MBG poisoning had reached 6,452 by the end of September 2025.

Antara, Jakarta – Recent earthquakes in Lampung and East Java have resulted in significant property damage. The M4.5 earthquake centered in Tanggamus Regency, Lampung, on the night of Friday, September 26, 2025, damaged 11 houses. Meanwhile, a larger tremor off the coast of Banyuwangi, East Java, damaged 73 houses across four different regencies.

Investor Daily, Jakarta – Indonesia recorded net foreign capital outflows of Rp 2.71 trillion ($162 million) from its domestic financial markets in the fourth week of September, according to data from Bank Indonesia.

Ninis Chairunnisa, Jakarta – The press credentials of a CNN Indonesia reporter were revoked after the journalist questioned President Prabowo Subianto about the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) Program. The question was posed shortly after the President returned from an overseas trip on Saturday, September 27, 2025, at Halim Perdanakusuma Airport, Jakarta.

Basten Gokkon – A new study reports that the Bird's Head Seascape off Indonesia's West Papua serves as a vital habitat for juvenile male whale sharks, but lift-net fisheries, tourism boats and emerging mining activities in the region underscore the urgent need for stronger protection and management.

Hammam Izzuddin, Jakarta – Police arrested Muhammad Fakhrurrozi, an activist known as Paul, who is associated with Kamisan and the Social Movement Institute, on Saturday, September 27, 2025. Paul was initially apprehended in Yogyakarta before being transferred to East Java by the police.

Kamisan is a silent protest held by victims of human rights violations every Thursday.

Andrew Tito, Jakarta – A massive fire swept through a densely populated neighborhood in West Jakarta on Sunday morning, destroying 316 houses and leaving more than 1,200 residents homeless, authorities said.

Agnes Valentina Christa, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto secured investment commitments worth $23.8 billion during his recent visit to Japan, Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya said on Saturday.

The pledges emerged from Prabowo's stop in Osaka, where he visited the Indonesian Pavilion at the upcoming Expo 2025.

Hendrik Yaputra, Jakarta – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto announced that several heads of state contacted him after he delivered a speech at the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly. He claimed that world leaders were impressed by Indonesia's position on resolving the Gaza conflict.

Agencies, Jakarta – A government agency running President Prabowo Subianto's massive free meals program said on Friday its lack of oversight led to a recent outbreak of food poisoning among thousands of school children.

Annisa Febiola, Jakarta – The Indonesian Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries has halted the illegal use of sea space in the form of reclamation for the construction of a jetty or pier on the coast of Ulu Sawa Village, South Konawe Regency, Southeast Sulawesi. PT GMS's jetty lacks the document of the Suitability for Utilization of Sea Space (PKKPRL).

Vedro Imanuel Girsang, Jakarta – The Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Legal, Human Rights, Immigration, and Law, Yusril Ihza Mahendra, ensures that the government has never banned the circulation of books. This statement follows the growing practice of police confiscating books.

Sita Planasari, Jakarta – Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono has responded to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's remarks that referenced President Prabowo Subianto's speech during the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

Vedro Imanuel Girsang, Jakarta – Indonesia's Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration, and Penitentiary Affairs, Yusril Ihza Mahendra, has defended the mass arrests that followed a wave of protests across the country in late August.

He insisted that demonstrators taken into custody were not targeted simply for protesting but for committing criminal acts.

Ichsan Ali, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto has completed a six-day diplomatic tour to Japan, the United States, Canada, and the Netherlands, underscoring Indonesia's rising global presence. The tour, which began on Sept. 19, coincided with the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

Dinda Shabrina, Jakarta – Health expert Tjandra Yoga Aditama highlights the results of laboratory tests related to mass poisoning cases in Indonesia's Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program in West Java, including West Bandung Regency. Based on the regional health laboratory report, Salmonella and Bacillus cereus bacteria were found in several food samples that were tested.

Dr. Muhammad Zulfikar Rakhmat – At the United Nations General Assembly this week, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto delivered a speech that many in Jakarta framed as a defense of Palestine. He described the catastrophe in Gaza, used the word "genocide," and called for Palestinian statehood.

Sita Planasari, Jakarta – Indonesia, provides US$12 million (Rp200.4 billion) in food aid to Gaza residents through the World Food Programme (WFP) in response to the food crisis and starvation in the region caused by the Israeli blockade.

This aid is part of the 10,000-ton rice commitment previously announced by Indonesia's president at the UN General Assembly on Tuesday.

Dinda Shabrina, Jakarta – Nutrition expert Hardinsyah has attributed recent food safety incidents in Indonesia's Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program to bacterial contamination

He stressed that stronger oversight is crucial to ensure the distributed meals do not endanger the health of children, pregnant women, and breastfeeding mothers.

Jakarta – Forget the "Big Durian"! Jakarta now has a new nickname, albeit a less flattering one: Jakarta Kota Galian (City of Excavation). This moniker comes from frustrated Jakartans who took to social media to vent about traffic congestion exacerbated by widespread digging for utility projects across the city.

Ilona Estherina, Jakarta – Indonesia's National Nutrition Agency (BGN) has announced that factory-produced food items will no longer be included in the government's Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program.

Deputy Head of BGN, Nanik S. Deyang, delivered the statement during a press conference at the agency's office in Jakarta on Friday, September 26, 2026.

Monique Handa Shafira, Jakarta – The United Development Party (PPP), one of the country's oldest political parties, named Muhammad Mardiono as its definitive chairman for the 2025-2030 term on Saturday, in a chaotic congress marred by fistfights and chair-throwing among rival factions.

Tanjungpinang – A letter signed by a school principle agreeing to keep quiet about food poisoning incidents in the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program has gone viral on social media.

Alif Ilham Fajriadi, Jakarta – Indonesian Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa led officials from the Finance Ministry to monitor the free nutritious meal program (MBG). The monitoring was conducted at 20 random locations to assess the program's execution, whether it has a positive impact on the economy, or if it is detrimental to the government.

Yogyakarta – Hundreds of mothers held a symbolic action by banging cooking utensils as a form of protest against the implementation of the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program which has recently resulted in thousands of school children suffering food poisoning.

Anastasya Lavenia Yudi, Jakarta – Bank Indonesia (BI) responded after the rupiah's exchange rate fell to Rp16,700 per U.S. dollar. On Thursday, September 25, 2025, the rupiah closed at Rp16,749 per U.S. dollar, which is 64 points weaker than the previous day. In response, Bank Indonesia reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining exchange rate stability.

Antara, Jakarta – The illiteracy rate in Indonesia continues to decline. Deputy of Primary and Secondary Education Minister, Atip Latipulhayat, said on Friday that over the past five years, Indonesia, through collective efforts, has successfully reduced the illiteracy rate to just 0.92 percent.

Indonesia, West Papua – The World Council of Churches and Franciscans International, together with several partner organisations, convened a side event during the 60th Session of the UN Human Rights Council on 22 September, examining conditions one year into Indonesia's current administration.

Antara, Jakarta – Deputy Commander of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) General Tandyo Budi Revita claims that the food produced in the TNI's free nutritious meal kitchen (MBG) meets quality standards. Tandyo made the statement in response to reports of residents experiencing food poisoning after consuming MBG in several areas.

Antara, Jakarta – Indonesia's job market is showing signs of strain as more than 10 million people are seeking work each year, indicating the gap between steady headline employment figures and the reality of a fast-growing labor force.

Adil Al Hasan, Jakarta – The drafting and synchronization team for the fourth revision of the State-Owned Enterprises (SOE/BUMN) Law has formally established a prohibition on ministers or vice ministers holding multiple positions on the boards of directors, commissioners, and supervisory boards of SOEs.